Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) Read online

“You’re not right.”

  “Then who are you? None of this makes sense.” I sighed.

  “I can’t tell you more about it. We’re not together.” He sat down on a stool and crossed his legs at his ankles.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. If you decided you wanted to be with me, I could fill you in.”

  “Be with you? As in date you?”

  “More than date.” His eyes moved up and down my body.

  I crossed my arms to block his view. “Yeah…not happening.”

  “That was quick.”

  “You’re not my type, Eric.”

  “But Toby is?”

  “Maybe.” I couldn’t help but think about Jared. Physically he was my type, even if his personality wasn’t.

  “You’re not my type either, but that doesn’t stop me from liking you.”

  “I’m not your type?” I glared at him. “Then what? You’re messing with me?” Not that I cared whether he liked me or not, but he was only confusing me more.

  “I usually go for girls a little feistier than you.”

  “Feistier?” I sneered at him. “I’ll show you feisty.”

  He laughed. “Glad to know you care so much.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Sure, sure. Get back to work, Bates.” His teasing made me think that maybe he was going to back off.

  Chapter Twelve

  Toby

  “Who the hell let you in here?” I snapped the second I walked through my office door. I’d reluctantly said goodbye to Casey at her apartment earlier, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Jared yet.

  He leaned back in my chair with his feet on my desk. “Hello, Toby. Nice to see you too. Your assistant let me in. A witch, isn’t she? She’s cute, although I think I like the girl you keep at home even better.”

  “Stay the hell away from Casey.” I gave Jared a warning look. He was right about Nelly being a witch. She was the one who wiped my friends’ minds and I owed her. If they hooked up, it wasn’t my problem, but Casey wasn’t up for discussion.

  “Ah. Casey. I knew she had a name. And I seem to have hit a nerve. Funny, she seemed to think you two were just friends.” He grinned wickedly, knowing just how to get me where it hurt.

  “She’s unavailable.”

  “Is she? I wouldn’t go after another Pteron’s mate—unlike some other people.” He put his hands behind his head.

  “Allie was mine first.”

  “She wasn’t your mate. But that’s beside the point. We’re talking about Casey, and she isn’t your mate either.”

  I growled. “Just leave her alone.”

  “Okay. I get it. You like the girl.”

  “Is there a real reason you’re here, or is it just to annoy me?”

  “I’m here because you suck at your job.”

  “My men are on it.”

  “That’s not good enough and you know it. We have to quash this before it gets any bigger.” He leaned back further in my chair, and I had to fight myself not to toss him from it. It wasn’t worth the fall out.

  “What do you suggest we do?” I stayed standing. I refused to sit in one of my visitor chairs. He’d like that too much.

  “Who do you have on the inside?”

  “I’ve got a guy.” Marv wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do.

  “Wolf? Bear?” He sounded bored.

  “Bear. We’re watching him closely.”

  “Have you mapped out the attacks yet? Do they fit any pattern?” He messed with the pens on my desk.

  I shook my head. “No. They just keep getting progressively more public.”

  “I want to avoid any outright fighting. That will just give them the attention they’re looking for. We have to do this quietly. I’ll need to look at everything you have on the packs and clans involved.”

  “I’ll get their files.” My grandfather had been so old school that we literally had file folders. I planned on changing everything over to an electronic system when I got the chance.

  “Good. Anything fun going on tonight?” He cracked a smile, and I knew he was messing with me.

  “No.” I planned to comb through all the documents myself. Like hell I was going to let him discover anything first. Jared may have been Levi’s best, but he distracted easily. I needed to prove I could handle the situation myself if I didn’t want more of Laurent’s men on my territory.

  “Are you positive?”

  “I’m sure you can find something to do.”

  “Maybe I should see if Casey’s free…”

  “She’s not.” I regretted my decision to hold off on our dinner date until the next night.

  “Are you sure? She seemed to really like me this morning.” He was just pushing my buttons, but it pissed me off.

  “Try the witches’ place in Battery Park.” Anything to keep him away from Casey. I’m sure he’d find something or someone to keep him busy there.

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Great, now get out of my office.” I pointed to the open door.

  “I thought we were just starting to have some fun.”

  “Go bother someone else.”

  “Will do, but get me those files. I’ll need an office for the time I’m here.”

  “You’re not going to be here long.”

  He finally got his damn feet off my desk. “I still need an office.”

  “Fine. Ask Nelly.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He got out of my chair. “Try to calm down. Stress isn’t good for you.”

  “Fuck you,” I grumbled. Even if he weren’t a cocky bastard, I’d still hate him. He reminded me of everything I hated about Levi—only worse. He’d better stay far away from Casey. She already had Eric to worry about, she didn’t need Jared too. She didn’t need me either, but it was probably too late for that. She’d awakened a side in me I thought was gone, and I needed it. I dug out my phone as Jared strolled out through the doorway.

  “Hey, Toby,” Casey answered in a singsong tone. She sounded happy to hear from me.

  “Hey. Any chance we can move that dinner date up to tonight?”

  “Miss me already?” she teased.

  “Yes.” No reason to beat around the bush. Maybe part of my motivation was another Pteron, but I still wanted to see her.

  “Honesty. I like that.”

  I glanced at my watch. “Are you still at work?”

  “No. I’m home, but didn’t you know that?”

  “How would I know that?”

  “You have me under surveillance.” She didn’t sound as annoyed about it as I would have thought. We’d only been hanging out for a few days, but I already knew to expect the unexpected with her. Her reactions were hard to predict, and there was something exciting about it. My work life had been stressful, but my personal life had been as boring as they come. The change was good.

  “I don’t ask for minute to minute updates. I just want to know if there’s anything suspicious.”

  “Ah, I see. I’ll run to the store and meet you at your place.” She sounded excited, and I wanted to see her.

  “Do you really need to do the shopping yourself? We could have someone else do it.” That would give us more time to hang out at home. God, I sounded like an old person. Dinner at home was okay for one night, but I’d have to take her out somewhere nice next time.

  “Seriously? Seriously, Toby?” Her voice rose a little, and I could just picture her incredulous expression.

  “What? I’m just saying…”

  “We’re going to the market like normal people.”

  “We? So I’m invited?”

  “Oh. I guess I did say that.” She sounded surprised about her words. “Yeah. You’re invited if you want.”

  “I’m leaving my office now. Wait for me.”

  “I will.”

  I’d never been more excited for food shopping in my life.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jared

  Toby was too easy to rile up.
Usually it took me a while to find someone’s weak spots, the things they were most sensitive about, but not this time. Maybe I was getting better which, beyond being fun, was part of my job. I needed to find ways to get people to think and feel what I wanted them to. Strictly speaking, I didn’t need to mess with Toby, but it was too simple to resist.

  There was something about that girl, Casey, that he wanted. She was attractive. There was no question about that. Even in the oversized clothes I could tell she had a great body, and that pretty face of hers wasn’t anything to brush off either. Still, it had to be more than that. There were lots of pretty girls out there, and Toby seemed bent out of shape over this one. But they weren’t a couple. She’d made that part crystal clear. Was she doing that for my benefit? I wasn’t going to seek her out, but if she came to me, I wouldn’t hold back on his account.

  I pushed Casey from my mind and focused on my plans for the night. Glad I’d thrown a blazer in with my clothes, I got ready to go out. I’d never been out in New York without Levi and Owen, but I didn’t let that stop me. There was no way I was sitting around and staring at the walls all night. Besides, it might actually help me figure out what the hell was going on.

  I hadn’t taken a trip up to the city in a while, so I decided to take Toby’s suggestion and check out the place in Battery Park. A paranormal club would serve my purposes for the evening. The paranormal bars in New Orleans are what you’d expect them to be. Picture biker bars with stronger liquor and more dangerous clientele. I already knew this place would be different. Any place run by witches was bound to be trouble.

  I decided to fly over, so I carried the rest of my clothes with me. There was something cool about flying in New York City at night. As much as I’m a New Orleans guy, nothing beats that skyline, and it looks even better from above. I had to fly high up to avoid being spotted, but I stayed close enough to enjoy the view. I landed in the park and quickly got changed. Shirt buttoned and blazer on, I headed inside.

  “Florence, what the hell are you doing here?” The bouncer recognized me immediately when I stepped up to the entrance. He looked like a Silver Back. Those gorilla shifters were built large.

  “Glad to see me?” I had no clue who the guy was.

  “No. I’m never glad to see you.”

  “Really? Is there a particular reason why not?” I could have pushed him out of the way, but his annoyance was actually kind of amusing.

  “Yeah, you slept with my sister.”

  “I doubt that.” I made it my business to stay away from anyone not human. “I don’t do shifter trash.”

  “She’s adopted, jackass. “

  “Oh. Well, did she complain?”

  He lunged for me, and I easily caught his fist. “Let’s not make a scene. We both know who’d win a fight.”

  He grunted but stepped out of my way so I could enter.

  I pushed my way through the crowds looking for the bar. Work or not, I wasn’t spending a night with a bunch of tight ass paranormals sober.

  A pretty redhead winked at me. I ignored her. She was a witch, and I didn’t want to mess with magic.

  “What can I get you?” the bartender asked. I couldn’t tell exactly what he was, but I had a feeling he was shifter.

  “A Jack and Coke.”

  “Coming up.” He made the drink and set it down in front of me. “Are you new in town?”

  “I’m only here for a visit.”

  “Oh yeah? Where you from?”

  “New Orleans.” I took a large swig of the drink.

  “What do you think of the new king? Is he going to make it?”

  “Of course, he is. He’s exactly what The Society needs.” I was fiercely defensive of Levi. He was the one guy I knew who would always have my back, and I always had his.

  The bartender looked at me warily, probably realizing I was a Pteron and he was treading on thin ice.

  “Jared, hello.” A cute, blonde witch put a hand on my arm. “So nice of you to stop by The Sprite House.”

  “I thought I’d make the rounds.”

  “Lovely. Let me show you around.” She linked her arm with mine.

  “You’re the second high-ranking Pteron we’ve had in here in the last few weeks.”

  “Oh yeah?” I feigned interest, already staking out the place for intel. I wasn’t going to get it from a witch.

  “Toby. Our new fearless leader.”

  “Oh, really? I didn’t think he ever left his office.” Just because he dropped the name didn’t mean he frequented the place.

  “He did. Had a pretty little human with him too.”

  Now that got my interest. “A brunette, big blue eyes?”

  “Uh huh. You know her?”

  “In passing.”

  “He got bent out of shape when I enchanted her drink with an aphrodisiac spell. I’ve never seen a man push a girl away more. He’s too noble for his own good.”

  “Tsk tsk. Enchanting a Pteron’s date is a no-no.”

  “Not by our rules. I didn’t enchant him.”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t shut you down.” I was also surprised he’d kept her at arm’s length. I doubted I’d have that kind of restraint with her. If she asked for it, she’d get it from me.

  “He was all right with it once I explained that all it did was enhance feelings.” The witch let her hand move up my arm until she squeezed my bicep. “It was an ego boost.”

  “Was that true? The enhance part?”

  “Yeah. The more the girl already feels, the better it works.”

  “Good for him.” I wondered if he was being as noble at that moment. My guess was he had her in his bed already. Damn, I needed to stop thinking about the girl. I had to focus on the job and not the growing bulge in my pants.

  The witch noticed it too. The way her eyes zeroed in on my crotch left me wondering if witches had better vision than I thought. Maybe she just had a sense for hard-ons. “Is that for me, or are you thinking about Toby’s girl?”

  “She’s not his.”

  “What is it with you Pterons always fighting over the same humans? Didn’t Levi and Toby just go to war last year?” With a sly grin, she released my arm and wandered off.

  “A Pteron, huh?”

  I followed the seductive voice and found a girl with jet black hair down to her waist. She sat in a darkened booth in a circular alcove. She had a friend with her with equally long hair that was blonde.

  “Maybe. What’s it to you?”

  “What kind are you?” The blonde stood up and gestured for me to slip into the booth between them. If I was at a human bar, I would have been all about it, but these weren’t humans.

  I shook my head. “I’m fine where I am.”

  “Are you sure?” she reached behind her neck, untying the strings of her halter top.

  “Absolutely.” I kept myself in check. She wasn’t human, which meant she wasn’t of interest in that department.

  “That’s too bad. We thought you wanted to have some fun with us.” She dropped the strings and exposed her bare chest.

  I swallowed. Human men would pay big money for a few minutes in a place like that.

  “You heard him. He’s not interested.” The dark haired girl spoke, and by the time I turned to look at her, she was also topless.

  “But he’s straight. I can tell,” the blonde whined. She stepped toward me as though she wasn’t half naked.

  “Maybe he’s the type that likes to watch.”

  Fuck. They were nymphs. Only nymphs would be playing with me like that. I turned around to regain my composure for a second. By the time I turned back, the blonde was crawling onto her friend’s lap.

  “What I want from you is information.”

  “Information?” The blonde turned around and slid into the seat next to her friend. Neither bothered to cover up even though the subject had changed.

  “Yes.”

  “What will we get?”

  “That depends on how good the information is
.”

  “How good does it have to be to get a fuck out of you?” the blonde asked without missing a beat.

  “That’s not happening. I could compensate you in other ways.”

  She pouted. “Money can buy us things.”

  The dark haired nymph giggled. “Fun things.”

  I probably could have found someone else to question, but drunk nymphs are easy to interrogate, and human or not, neither had a bad rack. After all, there is a saying about being able to look but not touch. Nymphs talked, they also listened and did a lot of fucking. My guess is these girls had been in bed with plenty of bears and wolves lately and probably had lots to tell.

  “You could at least sit down.”

  “I suppose I could.” I walked back out to the bar and picked up a chair. Sliding into that booth wouldn’t be a good idea.

  “You really are no fun.”

  “My clothes are staying on, ladies.”

  “Even your shirt?” The blonde touched her breasts, as though accentuating her nakedness would make me want to do the same thing. “You could at least show us your wings.”

  “Good to know that if the money dries up, I can sell nudie shots to the nymphs.”

  They both giggled. “You could sell more than a picture.”

  “Okay. Let’s stay on task here.” I pulled out a fifty from my wallet and placed it on the table. The girls turned their eyes to the paper. “All right, good. The attacks, tell me about them.”

  “What do you want to know?” The blonde picked up the bill and tucked it into her skirt so that half of it stuck out. I wasn’t asking for it back even if they didn’t talk.

  “Why now? Who’s the ring leader?”

  “The king is weak.”

  “No, he’s not.” I could feel my anger boil. They might be seeing my wings for a whole different reason.

  “He is, and there’re some secrets the bears have uncovered.”

  “Secrets?”

  “Yes. Big secrets.”

  I pulled out another fifty. This time, the dark haired girl took it. “They’re trying to get the king to strike back, to give them an excuse to make a real run against them.”

  “But they struck first.”

  “Only on humans…not on the Pterons.” She lay down, resting her head on her friend’s lap.